California Flood Insurance Costs & Coverage Requirements
Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Quotes in California
Flood insurance isn't mandated by the state of California, but many homeowners still need to purchase coverage as a requirement of their mortgage lenders. Flood insurance is also a good consideration if you live within a floodplain, even if the area isn't designated as a high-risk flood zone.
Homeowners and renters insurance policies don't cover flood damage, but you can purchase a flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. The average cost of an NFIP policy in California is $779 per year, but homeowners may find lower rates and higher coverage limits through a private flood insurance company.
How much does flood insurance cost in California?
The cost of flood insurance through the NFIP varies depending on a number of factors, like your home's elevation, when it was built, its building materials and how close it is to a river, lake or the coast. For example, a house with a basement will have higher premiums than one without. Your premium will also vary depending on the deductibles you choose for building and contents coverage.
NFIP flood insurance policies have deductibles between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on the amount you're willing to pay out of pocket in the case of flood damage. However, quotes for your property will be the same no matter which company you purchase flood insurance from, as the program is entirely underwritten by the NFIP.
The average cost of flood insurance in California is $779 per year through the NFIP. But, as you can see below, average premiums can vary significantly by region, more than 100% among the 10 largest cities.
City | Policies in force | Total coverage | Total premiums | Average cost per policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 9,839 | $3,043,334,200 | $6,119,220 | $622 |
| San Diego | 3,020 | $869,281,500 | $3,207,647 | $1,062 |
| San Jose | 6,878 | $1,797,825,800 | $6,192,617 | $900 |
| San Francisco | 167 | $51,923,200 | $94,364 | $565 |
| Fresno | 291 | $90,541,900 | $239,575 | $823 |
| Sacramento | 43,423 | $14,641,840,200 | $18,972,593 | $437 |
| Long Beach | 3,035 | $819,228,600 | $3,819,401 | $1,258 |
| Oakland | 602 | $156,503,000 | $490,445 | $815 |
| Bakersfield | 496 | $167,871,100 | $251,221 | $506 |
| Anaheim | 470 | $143,626,500 | $372,504 | $793 |
If you want to get the cheapest flood insurance in California, compare rates from the NFIP against rates from private flood insurance companies. This isn't always an option, as some mortgage lenders require NFIP flood insurance, but a private insurer may be able to provide both cheaper rates, as well as higher coverage limits.
California flood insurance coverage
No matter the state, federally-backed flood insurance policies have limits of $250,000 for your home's structure and $100,000 for personal property.
Flood insurance can be purchased in California through the NFIP or a private flood insurance company. The NFIP's flood insurance can be purchased through most insurers and agents, so you can typically buy coverage through the insurer you already use for homeowners insurance.
NFIP flood insurance policy options are the same in every state, but the price is tailored to your home. Your policy won’t cover damage to basements or additional living expenses if you have to temporarily relocate. The policy also won't protect your vehicle, as you would need to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy in order to cover flood damage.
A flood insurance policy covers several risks faced by California homeowners, including:
- Overflow of inland and tidal waters, such as rivers that can flood during heavy rain.
- Mudflow over areas that are normally dry.
- Levee breaks.
However, flood insurance typically won't cover earth movement, even if it's caused by a flood. So, if a landslide or sinkhole develops due to a flash flood, this would not be covered by an NFIP flood insurance policy. And California homeowners still need to purchase separate coverage for other common risks, such as earthquakes.
Do you need flood insurance in California?
Flood insurance isn't required for homeowners in California, but it’s typically mandated by mortgage lenders if your house is within a high-risk flood zone. These "special flood hazard areas" are re-evaluated over time, so it's best to check the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Maps to determine whether your house is considered at high risk of flooding.
A map of California's flood zones shows whether you need flood insurance to obtain a federally-backed mortgage. This is typically the case for zones that start with A or V. If your home is in an area labeled Zone B, X or C, it has less than a 1% annual chance of flooding, and you generally won't be required to purchase flood insurance.
However, even if it's not required, it's typically a good idea to consider flood insurance unless your home is far from any dams or levees and at a higher elevation than most of the surrounding area. If a flood occurs, damage to your property won't be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, as flooding is typically a named exclusion. And you're unlikely to receive government assistance unless a federal disaster is declared.
Risks of flooding in California
The majority of California is at risk of flooding, and every county has been declared a flood disaster area at least once. In recent years, heavy rain in northern and central California has caused rivers to flood and damage the surrounding area.
These floods can damage your house and property. While flood insurance won't cover all issues and has policy limits, you may easily have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses yourself if you have no coverage in place.